Tampa Police asking for help identifying a 'person of interest' in two daytime robberies

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TAMPA - Tampa Police are asking for the public's help in identifying a "person of interest" in two daytime robberies.

Officers describe the man as a Black or Hispanic man with a light complexion. He has a muscular build and is fairly clean shaven. Authorities say he was last seen wearing a black or red shirt with a logo on the front and either black or blue jean shorts.

Police say the man was wearing a red backpack and was armed with a sharp object, possibly a small knife.

The first incident, a robbery attempt, occurred on Thursday at 9:07 a.m. at 1512 East 8th Avenue in Tampa. A woman was sitting in her parked car when the man approached her vehicle.

The woman said the man repeatedly banged on her window while yelling, "give me your car." He then tried to open the car door, but it was locked. The man ran off towards 15th Street when the woman began blowing her car's horn.

Authorities say about an hour later the man approached a delivery driver about a block from the first incident. The driver was sitting inside his truck with the door open.

Police say the suspect was armed with a sharp object. He grabbed the driver's shirt and demanded cash.

The suspect took the money from the driver and ran away on foot westbound on 8th Avenue. Neither of the victims was injured in the robberies.

Detectives obtained photos of a "person of interest" in the robberies who was spotted on surveillance cameras near both crime scenes.

Anyone with information about who this man may be is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477). Anonymous tips leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash.

Copyright 2014 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.